Isamu Noguchi

Isamu Noguchi
Isamu Noguchi, 1941
Born	(1904-11-17)November 17, 1904 Los Angeles, California
Died	December 30, 1988(1988-12-30) (aged 84) New York City, New York
Nationality	American
Known for	Sculpture, landscape architecture, furniture design
Notable work	Red Cube (New York City), Black Sun (Seattle), Sky Gate (Honolulu), Akari lanterns, Herman Miller lounge table
Movement	Biomorphism
Awards	Logan Medal of the arts (Art Institute of Chicago), 1963; Gold Medal, Architectural League of New York, 1965; Brandeis Creative Arts Award, 1966; Gold Medal (American Academy of Arts and Letters), 1977; Order of the Sacred Treasure; National Medal of Arts (1987)

Isamu Noguchi (野口 勇, Noguchi Isamu^?, November 17, 1904 – December 30, 1988) was an American artist and landscape architect whose artistic career spanned six decades, from the 1920s onward. Known for his sculpture and public works, Noguchi also designed stage sets for various Martha Graham productions, and several mass-produced lamps and furniture pieces, some of which are still manufactured and sold.

In 1947, Noguchi began a collaboration with the Herman Miller company, when he joined with George Nelson, Paul László and Charles Eames to produce a catalog containing what is often considered to be the most influential body of modern furniture ever produced, including the iconic Noguchi table which remains in production today. His work lives on around the world and at the Noguchi Museum in New York City.

Isamu Noguchi was born in Los Angeles, the illegitimate son of Yone Noguchi, a Japanese poet who was acclaimed in the United States, and Léonie Gilmour, an American writer who edited much of Noguchi's work.

Yone had ended his relationship with Gilmour earlier that year and planned to marry The Washington Post reporter Ethel Armes. After proposing to Armes, Yone left for Japan in late August, settling in Tokyo and awaiting her arrival; their engagement fell through months later when she learned of Léonie and her newborn son.